Always a Trip ~ Fajardo

It isn't unusual to run into friends on the ferry; after all, it's a small island and eventually you know a lot of people, if not by name then by sight. So running into friends, sitting right across from me, was nice but not surprising. Running into friends who have exactly the same errands with the same agencies, that's a little more unusual. Running into friends with the same missions who also have a car to use complete with the offer to come along? That pretty much tops it out. I decided not to pay attention to the fact that it was April Fool's Day.

Looking ahead

and astern

Light show

 For no apparent reason, this rainbow bit appeared. Just a bit. 

and then it started growing

The rainbow and daydream dozing kept me occupied until we got ashore. With coffee on the menu (not realizing the ferry left at 6 and not 6:30...I was being my usual early self meaning I made the ferry but with no time for coffee, really meaning I wasn't really awake).

To get our caffeine fix, we headed to Dulce Aroma. I'd peeked my head in here once but it was packed and I didn't feel like waiting, so it was a nice surprise to see a few empty spots available. First things first; lattes

 lat·te

ˈlätā/

noun

a type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk

(ok, I ordered cafe' con leche, but friend fixed that for me, thanks!) for three, some croissants with egg and cheese and we were good to go. Except that the coffee was taking a pretty long time. And then I understood why.

Yin and yang coffee

Buddha coffee

Carnival coffee

I made those names up, otherwise I probably couldn't have ordered at all. Served in real mugs, it was coffee artwork. Maybe I've been living in a strange world - maybe - but I think this was only the second time my coffee has been decorated. Most important, it was really good coffee. Really Good. Check out Dulce Aroma if you haven't already. Real mugs, cardboard food containers, it's a little sustainable outpost flung into Fajardo.

After some fairly fruitless missions agency wise (except to find out what paper needed to come with us next time; if you live here you know what I mean, if you don't - well, you don't), we headed to a small side road cafe off the plaza for lunch. There is so much good food tucked into unexpected places all over Puerto Rico. This was one of them and I don't remember the name. I doubt  you'd find them with their own web page anyway...just be willing to take a chance, you'll probably be happy with the results.

Below is NOT the cafeteria. We asked but couldn't find out what it once was, but it has probably some of the nicest architecture remaining in Fajardo. Sadly, many others were replaced with the boxiness associated with fast and cheap and a huge chapter of cultural history was lost. This building is for sale now. I hope it finds a really loving buyer - it could change the neighborhood.

Lots of details unseen but I didn't have the panoramic thing going on

Since no one, including myself, is interested in photos of Econo, Kmart or Sears and on the passenger ferry home outside is verboten, I'm skipping that and going right to the finish. With no photos of that either. Home, a quick stir fry with fish and chicken and rice, some visual mindless entertainment and sleep. A good day. Thanks, chicas, for letting me come along for the ride.

Because two of us didn't have enough official paper and because things like fax machines haven't been invented yet in certain segments of our governmental facilities, we need to go back and do this again very soon. Making the trip fun is the name of the game. We've got this.

Have a technophobically free Thursday. Do something therapeutic.

Free Range Friday ~ Over the Water and Through the Waves

Taking a trip to Fajardo to take care of business, and sometimes just shopping for a necessary item, is akin to standing at the entrance to a fun house you've never been inside of; the potential for surprises is endless. Will the place you are going really be open? Will the person you need to see actually be there? Will the one item that will make your life work more smoothly be anywhere you can, without too many side trips, find it?

We've all had the negative side of that experience, so when the positive slides right into your day, allowing you to accomplish exactly what you were hoping for, with a minimum of fuss, the day, no matter the weather, turns into a shining one. Even if it means you have gotten things taken care of so quickly that you have six hours to while away because that is when the next ferry arrives to take you home. But the high of success goes a long way. So does running into someone whom you haven't had a chance to say more than a fleeting hello over months and months. Catching up moves time along and time passers are good in a place where waiting with calm patience is an art form.

The no longer full but still quite round moon was still making an appearance.

El Yunque looked like it was covered with snow. Surprise! It wasn't.

This old wreck never fails to get my attention. You've seen it here before and you will again.

I wish I'd gotten a shot of the front of this police car. Those lights (flashing blue and green) underneath were carnival impressive, the ones on the dash and headlights made it complete. A toy police vehicle, full size.

I also didn't take any photos when, leaving the ferry on the Fajardo side, I saw a guy with an assault rifle in full camo waiting at the bottom of the walkway. Or of the line of cops that I almost walked right through, oblivious, until a woman pulled me back and pointed out the row of bags on the ground. I put mine there, awaiting the sniffing dog with little black boots on (tiny motorcycle looking boots). He was doing a dance not unlike a 5 year old who needs a bathroom, hopping up and down. Maybe he was ready to sniff or maybe those booties were uncomfortable. Whatever the case, it was not photo taking time. No drama, we picked up our dog nose released bags and moved along. It's good to be legal.

Home again, back to my peaceful yard. I did a happy dance while Spike had his bath.

For the food portion of Free Range Friday, I'm pleased to serve a celestial meal. No calories and it will fill you up. Thanks, Pam S. for bringing it to our attention!

Noctilucent Clouds and Aurora.Maciej Winiarczyk

Have a flying Friday. Do something festive.